how to cite a research paper in ieee format

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IEEE Citation | Quick Guide & Examples

IEEE citation format is a way of citing your sources in a paper. IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the association that created the guidelines.

It is a commonly used citation style in electrical and electronic engineering, in computer science, and in other technical disciplines. It is also used in IEEE’s own publications.

IEEE citation format consists of:

• Numerical in-text citations appearing in brackets
• A numbered reference list with full source information

Table of contents

Ieee in-text citation, ieee references, formatting the reference page, frequently asked questions about ieee citation.

An IEEE in-text citation is just a number in brackets, pointing the reader to the relevant reference. Use the same number each time if you refer to the same source repeatedly. You may also mention the author’s name in your sentence, but you don’t have to.

IEEE citations can be placed at the relevant point in the sentence, before any punctuation that follows. Multiple citations at the same point are separated by commas , a range of citations by an en dash (–, outside the brackets, with no spaces).

A more concise option is to treat the citations as nouns in your sentence, in which case you don’t mention any author names. If you take this approach, be consistent. Don’t switch between the two approaches in one paper.

If you quote or paraphrase a specific part of the source, include a page number within the brackets to point the reader to the right part.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The IEEE reference page provides full information on your sources, so that readers can locate and consult them. You’ll usually include the author’s name, the title of the source, the publication date, information about the publisher, and sometimes a DOI .

The exact information included and the formatting vary by source type. Formats and examples for common source types are shown below.

• Journal article

The IEEE reference page appears on a separate page at the end of your paper, with the heading “References” at the top. The heading is written in bold text, either left-aligned or centered.

References are numbered in the order they were first cited in the text. The numbers appear in brackets on the left side of the page, forming their own column separate from the references, which are indented consistently.

The references are single-spaced, with the next reference appearing on the following line.

IEEE citation format is defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and used in their publications.

It’s also a widely used citation style for students in technical fields like electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, telecommunications, and computer engineering.

An IEEE in-text citation consists of a number in brackets at the relevant point in the text, which points the reader to the right entry in the numbered IEEE reference page at the end of the research paper . For example, “Smith [1] states that a new protocol will indubitably pay off.”

A location marker such as a page number is also included within the brackets when needed: “Smith [1, p. 13] argues that the poet made facetious comments.”

The IEEE reference page consists of a list of references numbered in the order they were cited in the text. The title “References” appears in bold at the top, either left-aligned or centered.

The numbers appear in square brackets on the left-hand side of the page. The reference entries are indented consistently to separate them from the numbers. Entries are single-spaced, with a normal paragraph break between them.

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IEEE General Format

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Contained in this page are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in IEEE style. The best way to format your paper may vary slightly depending on which field you’re working in and the specifics of where your paper is being submitted, so remember to double-check against any submission guidelines provided by the organization, instructor, or supervisor to whom you are submitting your paper.

• The paper title should be centered at the top of the first page, in 24-point type.
• Author’s name (or authors’ names)
• Author affiliation(s)
• City & country location(s)
• E-mail address(es).
• The body of the paper should be in 10-point type, and formatted to appear in two columns. The columns on the last page should be the same length; this may require adding a column break after you have finished the body of your paper.
• All papers must begin with an abstract and index terms.

Note to Practitioners

Nomenclature.

• Acknowledgements
• Papers may be divided into sections and subsections; IEEE has guidelines for primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary section headings.
• IEEE papers begin with a drop cap two lines deep, followed by the next 8-12 characters (or 1-2 words, whichever is appropriate) in all caps.
• Figures, tables, and equations should each be numbered consecutively, but separately. They should also be centered in the column in which they appear.

An IEEE abstract should be written as a single paragraph roughly 200 words long, give or take 50 words. (Abstracts shorter than 150 words or longer than 250 risk incurring the irritation of the editors.) It should be self-contained, and should concisely & accurately summarise the contents of your paper. It is encouraged to try and include three or four keywords or key phrases to help interested readers to find your article.

Abstracts should be simply formatted, without anything that requires specialized typesetting or consultation of material outside the abstract. Abbreviations, footnotes, references, tables, graphs, charts, figures, and displayed mathematical equations are specifically forbidden. The goal of an abstract is to be a simple, accessible, and self-contained microcosm of your paper.

Here is an example of how you might format an abstract:

The abstract should be followed by index terms. These should be in a paragraph separate from the abstract. Index terms are similar to keywords and are provided by the paper’s author to help journals, editors, and readers categorize, archive, or locate your paper. IEEE maintains a standardized list of index terms to make this process easier and its categories more consistent. The most recent version of the  IEEE Taxonomy  can be found on the IEEE website. Here is a link to the 2019 version of the taxonomy .

Index terms should be given in alphabetical order; the first should be capitalized, and the rest lowercase unless they contain acronyms or other components that inherently require capitalization.

Here is an example of how you might format a set of index terms:

Section Headings

Dividing one’s paper into clearly labelled sections increases readability, and is encouraged. Typical sections include Introduction and Conclusion sections as well as sections within the body of the paper that relate to aspects of its content.

Primary headings are enumerated with Roman numerals followed by a period, set in small caps, and centered above the text.

Secondary headings are enumerated with capital letters followed by a period,   set in italics and title case, left-aligned, unindented, and separated from the text by a line break.

Tertiary headings are enumerated by Arabic numerals followed by a close-parenthesis, set in italics and title case, left-aligned, indented one em, and separated from the text by a colon. There is no line break between the heading and the text. 

Quaternary headings are enumerated by lowercase letters followed by a close-parenthesis, set in italics and sentence case, left-aligned, indented two ems, and separated from the text by a colon. There is also no line break here.

Here is an example of what the various headings should look like in your document:

I. Primary Heading

                  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Fermentum leo vel orci porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse.

A. Secondary Heading

                  Odio ut enim blandit volutpat maecenas volutpat blandit aliquam. Amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et.

         1) Tertiary Heading:  Libero justo laoreet sit amet cursus sit. Enim nec dui nunc mattis enim ut tellus elementum sagittis.

                  a) Quaternary heading:  Nibh ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus. Malesuada proin libero nunc consequat interdum varius.

Special Headings

In addition to the standard headings above, there are a few special cases. References and Acknowledgments are formatted like primary headings, but are not enumerated.

Appendix headings should be arranged under a separate system, though formatted like primary headings; if there is only one appendix, it requires neither a number nor a name, but is simply labelled Appendix. If there are multiple appendices, they should be numbered and titled, though one should note that the numbering system for appendix headings is wholly separate from that of section headings; they start at one, regardless of how many sections were present within the paper. Appendices may be enumerated either with Roman numerals or with capital letters, according to the preference of the author, as long as it is done with consistency. Unlike section headings, the number will come after the word “Appendix”: Appendix A rather than A. Appendix. They should have titles, set on the line below them but still formatted like a section heading.

Here is an example of how you might format the beginning of an appendix:

Regarding the Vermiform Process

                  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. At augue eget arcu dictum varius.

If at any point you wish to refer back to a previous section within the text of your paper – e.g. “As mentioned in [section]…” – you should capitalize the word “Section” and separate subsections from the primary section numeral with a hyphen. E.g., “Section IV,” “Section II-A,” “Section III-B4c,” etc.

The Note to Practitioners, if you choose to include one, goes below your abstract. The aim of the Note is to, without repeating any of the information from your abstract, explain the practical applications of your work without use of jargon. This is so that engineers working on practical problems, who may not have significant background in your particular field, will be able to understand the application of your work to theirs.

A Note to Practitioners can be more than one paragraph, but is otherwise formatted like the abstract.

Here is an example of what a Note to Practitioners might look like:

                  Note to Practitioners – Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Enim sit amet venenatis urna cursus eget nunc scelerisque. Feugiat vivamus at augue eget arcu dictum. Lorem donec massa sapien faucibus et molestie. Pellentesque nec nam aliquam sem.

                  Vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus suspendisse. Velit scelerisque in dictum non consectetur a. Phasellus vestibulum lorem sed risus ultricies tristique nulla. Gravida neque convallis a cras semper auctor. At elementum eu facilisis sed odio morbi quis commodo.

                  Cursus eget nunc scelerisque viverra mauris in. Fames ac turpis egestas integer eget. Viverra mauris in aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi.

If your paper uses a number of different symbols, variables, and so forth, you may want to avoid having to define them within the body of your paper by providing a list of definitions up front; this is called the Nomenclature section. If you choose to include a Nomenclature section, it goes immediately before the Introduction section.

The heading for the Nomenclature section is formatted like a primary heading with no numeral, and the section itself is formatted generally the same as body text, including the italicization of variables. The main difference is the way in which the text must be aligned: the terms being defined are flush against the left margin, and the definitions are aligned one em-space after the longest defined term.

If you are working in a word processor, the easiest way to do this is often to insert a table into your document with invisible borders below the Nomenclature heading. See the images below for an example. Note that the images have been zoomed in to enlarge the text for clarity purposes.

Example of a nomenclature section

Example of a nomenclature section with the borders of the table used to format the section set to visible

IEEE Paper Format: Referencing Guide for CS and Engineering Research Papers

Table of contents

• 1 What Does IEEE Stand For
• 2.1 In-text Citations
• 2.2 Reference List
• 2.3 Figures and Tables
• 3.1 General Layout and Typography
• 3.2 Title Page and Abstract
• 3.3 Section Headings and Subheadings
• 3.4 Technical Content
• 4.1 Journal Articles
• 4.2 Conference Papers
• 4.3 Books and Chapters in Edited Volumes
• 4.4 Electronic Sources
• 4.5 Multiple Authors and No Author Situations
• 5 Tips for Avoiding Common Citation Errors
• 6 Using IEEE Citation Tools and Software
• 7 Final Words: Embracing IEEE for Academic Excellence

Navigating the intricate requirements of IEEE formatting can be daunting for both novice and experienced writers alike. Our article is designed to guide students and researchers through the intricate process of ensuring their scholarly work adheres to the rigorous standards set forth by IEEE writing style.

• In this article, we will explore the genesis and paramount importance of the IEEE style in academic circles.
• After reading the article, you will know about the main components of IEEE formatting.
• Look through the formatting guide on structuring your paper to mirror IEEE formatting guidelines focusing on layout, typography, and technical notation.
• An expansive review of citing a diverse range of sources and an IEEE research paper template.

Our goal is to arm you with the knowledge necessary to elevate the credibility and integrity of your academic pursuits. By emphasizing IEEE, scholars establish the foundation for outstanding research documentation, as well you can also use tools like the IEEE citation generator for precision.

What Does IEEE Stand For

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) citation style is more than just a set of guidelines for referencing sources; it’s a testament to the evolution of a discipline at the intersection of technology and research. Emerging from the need to standardize the documentation of sources in technical fields, the IEEE citation format has become synonymous with clarity, precision, and consistency in academic writing.

The IEEE citation style was developed in conjunction with the founding of the IEEE, an organization committed to the progression of technology for the benefit of humanity. This citation system was designed to meet the growing demands of the expanding fields of computer science and engineering, providing a structured method to cite diverse sources, including technical reports, conference proceedings, and electronic resources. Its creation was influenced by the principles outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style, ensuring a comprehensive approach to referencing that aligns with the specific needs of these technical disciplines.

Unlike the broader applicability of styles like APA and MLA, IEEE’s format is meticulously crafted to suit the technical and numerical nature of engineering literature. Its emphasis on concise, numbered references allows for seamless integration of citing sources without disrupting the flow of technical discourse.

When juxtaposed with APA formatting or MLA formatting , the IEEE format is distinguished by its use of square brackets for in-text citations and a streamlined reference list that prioritizes efficiency and accessibility. This strategy enhances the ease of source navigation and emphasizes the IEEE style’s commitment to conciseness and accuracy, establishing it as the go-to citation method for engineering research documentation. By comparing IEEE vs. APA, it’s clear that IEEE’s streamlined and precise citation approach is tailored for the engineering fields, in contrast to the APA style, which caters to a wider range of disciplines with its own set of guidelines that prioritize different aspects of citation and formatting.

Key Components of IEEE Style

The IEEE citation style, revered for its precision and applicability in technical fields, offers a structured approach to documenting sources. This section provides you with the essential elements that constitute its backbone.

In-text Citations

At the heart of IEEE’s in-text citation methodology is the use of square brackets containing numbers that correspond to a numbered reference list. This system ensures that citations are minimally intrusive, allowing the technical narrative to proceed uninterrupted. Each source is cited numerically, in the order of appearance, which simplifies reference management and reader navigation.

Reference List

The cornerstone of IEEE papers, the reference list is meticulously organized at the document’s conclusion. Each entry is numbered to match its in-text citation, following a specific format that includes the author’s name, paper title, publication date, and other relevant details, depending on the source type. This organization method supports the efficient retrieval of information and acknowledges the contributions of others in the researcher’s work.

Figures and Tables

IEEE guidelines stipulate specific formatting rules for figures and tables, including sequential numbering and the inclusion of descriptive captions. These elements should be referenced within the main text by their designated number, ensuring that each figure or table is easily identifiable and can be quickly referenced by readers. It means that figures, tables, and equations should each be numbered consecutively but separately.

Formatting Your Paper According to IEEE Guidelines

To write a research paper correctly , adhere to the following structured guidelines on how to write an IEEE paper:

• Title of the Paper: Position the title at the top center of the first page, utilizing an IEEE font size of 24pt.
• Author Details (Byline): Immediately below the title, centralize the byline in 10pt font, with each of the following details on its own line: author name(s), affiliation(s), city and country, and email address(es).
• Body of the Paper: The body text should be in 10pt font, formatted into two columns per page. Ensure that the columns on the final page are equal in length, possibly requiring a column break adjustment.
• Begin with an abstract followed by index terms.
• Papers might include additional sections based on the topic, such as Acknowledgments, Appendices, Note to Practitioners, and Nomenclature.
• Divide the main content into sections and subsections with appropriate headings.
• Number all tables, equations, and figures sequentially, ensuring they are centered within the column.
• Initiate the paper with a two-line deep drop cap, followed by the next 8-12 characters or 1-2 words in capital letters.

Parts of the Paper:

• Headings should follow a four-level hierarchy. The formatting includes centered primary headings with Roman numerals, flush left secondary headings in uppercase and lowercase italics, and indented tertiary headings with Arabic numerals followed by a parenthesis. Quaternary headings are similarly indented but enumerated by lowercase letters.
• Enumeration of headings is optional, but consistency is key.
• Distinct formats apply to IEEE Appendix, Reference, and Acknowledgement headings, which differ from the main text headings.

General Layout and Typography

IEEE Paper Template

The IEEE style mandates a specific formula for the layout, including font size, typeface, margins, and a column break. This structured approach ensures that each data point within your document — for example, if it’s a figure, table, or paragraph — receives the appropriate emphasis and weight, similar to how weights are considered in a weighted average calculation.

Also, you can find vast templates for your needs on template-selector.ieee.org .

Title Page and Abstract

Structuring the title page and crafting an effective IEEE abstract is a simple process, yet it holds significant weight in how readers perceive and understand your research. Here, the average value of your work is summarized, offering a snapshot of your data set and the final average number representing your study’s conclusions. By the way, the incorporation of abstract and index terms within IEEE format publications significantly enhances the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly works.

Section Headings and Subheadings

Effective use of both a primary heading (or primary headings) and subheadings acts as a method for dividing your paper into manageable sections, each with its own relative importance and weight in the total grade of your research.

This organization aids readers in navigating your paper, similar to how one might calculate a weighted average to determine the importance of different values in a data set. In IEEE style, appendix headings should be put in a different system but should be written like main headings. If there is only one appendix, it should be labeled “Appendix.” If there is more than one appendix, each one should have its own number and title, which should be different from how the section titles are named.

Technical Content

Incorporating technical content, such as formulas, equations, and technical notation, requires precise calculation and accuracy. Each data point and formula used must be calculated with precision, mirroring the accuracy needed when calculating weighted averages in data analysis.

The precision and clarity required in calculating the weighted average or average price of commodities mirror the meticulousness needed in formatting academic papers according to IEEE guidelines. Every data point — from the IEEE title page to the IEEE reference page — must be considered with its relative importance in mind, ensuring the total weight of the document is balanced and well-structured. However, if you don’t have enough time for it, you can get help from a research paper writing service , where professionals will do everything according to all rules and guidelines.

Generate Citations APA MLA Chicago IEEE AMA Turabian ASA APSA Bluebook CSE Website Book Journal article Newspaper article Book section or chapter Article Encyclopedia article Magazine article Citetions

Citing Sources in IEEE

Citing sources accurately in academic writing, particularly under the IEEE style, is a cornerstone of scholarly integrity and a testament to the meticulous nature of research within engineering disciplines. This meticulous approach ensures that every piece of information borrowed from another’s work is duly acknowledged, allowing readers to trace the origins of ideas and data, thereby fostering a transparent and ethical academic environment.

As we delve into the nuances of citing sources in IEEE, it becomes evident that this style is tailored to meet the specific needs of technical and scientific disciplines, offering a clear, concise, and systematic method of referencing.

Journal Articles

Citing journal articles in IEEE requires attention to detail. The format typically includes the author’s name, the title of the article, the title of the journal or newspaper article, the numbering system (volume number, issue number, page number or numbers), and the year of publication, all neatly encapsulated within square brackets.

This method highlights the importance of each element, ensuring readers can easily locate the original work. For example, a journal citation in IEEE might appear as follows: [1] A. Author, “Title of Article,” Title of Journal, vol. XX, no. XX, pp. XX-XX, year.

Conference Papers

We cite a conference paper, which is pivotal in disseminating cutting-edge research and findings with a similar level of specificity. The citation includes the author’s name, title of the paper, title of the conference, location, and the date of the conference. By providing a comprehensive citation, IEEE allows readers to explore the breadth of discussions and innovations presented in these professional gatherings.

Books and Chapters in Edited Volumes

When citing books and chapters within edited volumes, the IEEE writing format incorporates details such as the chapter author, chapter title, book editor, book title, edition (if applicable), publisher, city of publication, and the year. This exhaustive approach ensures that sources are credited with the utmost accuracy, reflecting the depth and breadth of research undertaken.

Electronic Sources

In today’s digital age, citing electronic sources — ranging from online databases to software and websites — has become increasingly common. IEEE adapts to this trend by requiring the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier), along with the standard citation information. This adaptation underscores the style’s flexibility and relevance in contemporary research practices.

Multiple Authors and No Author Situations

IEEE also provides clear guidelines for citing works by multiple authors or works where the author is unknown. For multiple authors, the style suggests listing all authors up to a certain number before resorting to “et al.” for brevity. In cases of no author, the title of the work moves to the author’s position in the citation, ensuring even anonymous works are appropriately acknowledged.

Tips for Avoiding Common Citation Errors

Navigating the intricacies of IEEE citations can be fraught with potential pitfalls, but mastering this component of academic writing is essential for maintaining scholarly integrity and ensuring the accuracy of your research or PaperOwl’s writers can do it instead of you.

Yet to fortify your work against common citation errors, consider these pivotal strategies:

• Accuracy in the details of each citation is paramount. Ensure that author names, titles, publication years, and page numbers are correctly noted and correspond precisely to the referenced material. A single discrepancy can lead to misattribution or difficulty in source retrieval.
• Apply the IEEE paper format uniformly throughout your document. Inconsistencies in citation style can confuse readers and detract from the professionalism of your work. Whether citing, for example, journals, books, or electronic sources, adherence to a consistent format is crucial.
• While citation management tools offer significant convenience, they are not infallible. Always review the generated citations for accuracy, ensuring they align with the latest IEEE standards.
• Misrepresenting authorship, especially in works with multiple authors, is a common error. Familiarize yourself with IEEE’s guidelines on listing authors to ensure proper attribution and to avoid unintentional omission.
• IEEE guidelines can evolve. Staying informed about the latest updates and revisions is essential for maintaining citation accuracy across all your academic endeavors.

Using IEEE Citation Tools and Software

Leveraging citation tools and software can dramatically streamline the process of adhering to the IEEE paper format, a boon for researchers and students alike. These technological aids, such as Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, and LaTeX, offer robust support for generating and managing citations efficiently, ensuring compliance with IEEE standards. By automating the citation process, these tools minimize manual errors and save valuable time.

Zotero and Mendeley, for example, are renowned for their user-friendly interfaces and ability to organize references in a centralized library. They allow for the easy insertion of citations into documents and the automatic generation of reference lists, all while offering the flexibility to switch between citation styles, including IEEE.

LaTeX, with its BibTeX extension, is particularly favored in the engineering and information technology communities for its precision in handling complex documents and formulas. It excels in creating documents that adhere to the stringent formatting requirements of IEEE, especially for mathematical content and technical papers.

EndNote stands out for its wide-ranging database access and sophisticated reference management capabilities, making it a valuable resource for extensive research projects requiring IEEE formatting.

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Final Words: Embracing IEEE for Academic Excellence

Mastering the IEEE style is not merely about adhering to a set of formatting rules; it’s about ensuring the weighted average of your research — each data point, calculation, and value — is presented with the utmost accuracy and precision. Like calculating weighted averages in complex datasets, applying IEEE guidelines requires attention to detail, method, and accuracy. Embrace these principles to enhance the value and integrity of your academic endeavors in engineering.

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IEEE (2023 ver.): Citation Examples & Essential Rules

      For NPS theses, papers, and publications: to cite properly, follow the citation examples and apply the essential rules.

The official IEEE style guide contains some inconsistencies and discrepancies. The Thesis Processing Office will continue to accept the BibTeX IEEE format embedded in the NPS LaTeX thesis template.

• IEEE Example List of References

Citation Examples

Essential rules, abbreviations.

• IEEE List of Acronyms and Abbreviations from IEEE Editorial Style Manual, 2016

Accessed Dates

Only include date accessed if the source material has no date.

Author Names: Honorifics

Do not include honorifics (Dr., Col., Professor, etc.) when citing author names. Including these titles in the body of your document is acceptable.

Identifying Authors of Official Documents

For the National Security Strategy , cite the president as the author.

For other official documents , the author is the organization immediately responsible for creating the document. In the example below, the author is the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the publisher is the Department of the Navy.

In the example above, the author is NOT an umbrella organization, signatory, or any of the following:

• Chief of Naval Operations
• Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
• W. F. Moran
• Department of Defense
• Navy Pentagon
• R. P. Burke
• United States of America​

Do not include acronyms for organizations listed as authors in the List of References or footnotes:

• YES: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
• NO: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO or OCNO).
• NO: CNO or OCNO.

Bibliography vs. List of References

What is the difference between them.

• A List of References  includes all works cited in a text
• A Bibliography  lists all works cited  and consulted

The NPS Thesis Processing Office prefers a List of References for the following: 

• Capstone project report
• Dissertation

For papers, check with your professors for their preference.

Capitalization: Title Case vs. Sentence case

Note: Always format the information in your citations (titles, author names, etc.) according to the requirements of the citation style you are using, regardless of how it appears in the original source.

Country Names with Government Organizations

When naming government organizations, be consistent: for example, either Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Defense. If citing organizations from multiple countries, ensure that it is clear which organization is associated with which country—for example, Australian Department of Defence, South African Department of Defence, Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence, Singapore Ministry of Defence.

Every equation that is not field-specific common knowledge needs to be cited. You may weave the source into the narrative:

• The author applied the X method [4] to describe ...
• The derivation that follows is summarized from [4].

Here is an example of citing properly before the equation. Note the period after the equation; the equation must function grammatically as part of the text:

And here is an example of how to cite an equation after it is presented:

• Citing Equations in IEEE Look under the "Citing Responsibly" heading

Figures / Images / Graphs

A citation is required if you did not wholly create the figure—i.e., if you used someone else's image or data. A citation is not needed when all elements of the figure are your own creation.

See Figure 1 for placement of the title and the bracketed citation.

• Put a period and a space after the title.
• If you use the figure exactly as it appears in the source, use “Source: ___.”
• If you alter the original figure or use someone else's image or data to create the figure, use “Adapted from ___.”

Figure 1.    A Figure with a Citation in IEEE Style. Source: [7].

Figure 1.    A Figure with a Citation in IEEE Style. Adapted from [7].

For more details, see the Thesis Template .

• Thesis Template

How Often to Cite?

• Remember: one citation at the end of a string of sentences or a paragraph cannot “cover” the entire section.  
• Cite a source the first time it is used in each paragraph.  
• Note: always use a citation (even if you also use a signal phrase) every time you quote material.

In-text Citation Placement & Signal Phrases

Citation order  .

IEEE strongly prefers that bracketed in-text citations appear sequentially, beginning with [1], within the body of the text; it does not matter in what order they appear in the List of Tables and the List of Figures.

Where in the sentence does my bracketed citation go?  

• If you name your source(s) in a given sentence, a bracketed citation follows immediately after mentioning the source. Example: Rejecting Abbott and Costello’s method [1], Laurel and Hardy [2] propose an altogether different model for optimizing hat density.  
• Note: Do not, however, begin a sentence with a bracketed citation.  
• If the sentence ends with a quotation, "close the quote, then place the citation between the quotation marks and the punctuation, like this” [6].  
• Do not insert spaces between a bracketed citation and the punctuation that follows it.

In the paragraph below, citations are highlighted in yellow and signal phrases are in blue . Note that the second sentence is common knowledge, whereas the final sentence is clearly the opinion of the author.

• Using Signal Phrases Effectively

Missing Info

If any information is missing from a source (a journal with no volume number, for example), simply omit that information.  For sources consulted in hardcopy, omit the URL and any additional verbiage that introduces it. Anything retrieved online, however, MUST have a link. The only exception is journals retrieved from a subscription database such as ProQuest. 

Multiple Authors, et al.

• In the List of References , if a source has more than six authors, include the first author's name followed by et al. (in italics)
• In the body of the text , if a source has three or more authors, include the first author's name followed by et al. Example: Ma et al. [19] extended the work …

Rules for the MAE Department: 

• In the  List of References , list  all  the authors.

Example: Ma et al. [19] extended the work …

Multiple Sources Bracketing Format

Correct format: [23], [34], [77]

Incorrect format: [23, 34, 77]

Page Numbers

It is not necessary to include page numbers in bracketed citations.

For a portion in a book, journal, or other volume, include page-number range in List of References/Bibliography.

Example: [7] P. Haynes, “Al-Qaeda, oil dependence, and U.S. foreign policy,” in  Energy Security and Global Politics: The Militarization of Resource Management,  D. Moran and J. A. Russell, Eds. New York, NY, USA: Routledge, 2009, pp. 62–74. 

Print vs. Online Sources

When citing a source retrieved online, use the "online" format even when you or someone else printed out the material. For example, if you print out a thesis or your advisor provides you with a printed thesis, it is still categorized as an online document.

Only cite as a print source when the material has been produced by a publisher in hard copy. For example, if you obtain a print journal or book from the library stacks, it is categorized as a printed source.

Secondary / Indirect Sources

An indirect source is a source that cites some other work that you discuss in your text.

Whenever possible, consult primary sources and your sources’ sources yourself. Upon investigating the primary source, you may find you disagree with the indirect source author’s analysis or methods.

How to Incorporate Indirect Sources

The following passage incorporates a properly credited indirect source . The  indirect source  information is highlighted in yellow; the  primary source information is highlighted in blue.

Walker describes Miguel Roig’s 1999 experiment , which correlates inadequate paraphrasing in student writing with poor reading comprehension. Citing Roig’s data , Walker explains that “students do in fact possess skills necessary for paraphrasing but … may be impeded from applying those skills when dealing with rigorous text” [1] .

Note:  Include only the indirect source  (the source  you consulted) in your reference list. 

For more information

See the TPO's " Citing Your Sources’ Sources " handout.

A citation is required if you did not wholly create the table—i.e., if you used someone else's data. A citation is not needed when all elements of the table are your own creation.

See Table 1 for placement of the title and the bracketed citation.

• If you use the table exactly as it appears in the source, use “Source: ___.”
• If you alter the original table or if you use someone else's data to create the table, use “Adapted from ___.”

Table 1.    A Table with a Citation in IEEE Style. Source: [7].

Table 1.     A Table with a Citation in IEEE Style. Adapted from [7].

For more details, including on table notes, see the  Thesis Template .

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Citation Help

Introduction

• Getting Started
• Citing Government Documents
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IEEE Quick Links

• IEEE Citation Guidelines Contains a formal set of editorial guidelines for IEEE Transactions, Journals, and Letters
• IEEE Reference List Guide Outlines how to cite a variety of references in IEEE style

Citing with IEEE

The IEEE citation style is now widely used in electrical, electronic and computing publications. IEEE provides instructions for authors for each type of publication such as journals, magazines, newsletters, and standards.  Please note: IEEE has stated Artificial Intelligence (AI) outputs, including products of chatbots, are not cited for publication purposes. In-text references can be treated as a personal/private communication.

IEEE is a numbered style with two components:

• In-text references where references are numbered [1] in the order of appearance in the article.  
• A reference list , displayed at the end of the article which provides full details of all references cited in-text. The references are ordered as they appear in the in-text references (in order of citation, not in alphabetical order).  

For further information, please refer to the guidelines on IEEE Documentation Style from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers site .

In-text references Using this system, references are numbered in the order in which they are first cited in the text. If the same reference is cited later in the text, the same number is given. For example:

"Another alternative to mitigate sensor occlusions is to rely on external road sensing infrastructure [8]." 

"However, most decision-making approaches for autonomous vehicles to date assume complete knowledge of the states of dynamic objects in the environment [1–6], even if such objects...." 

ChatGPT in IEEE

IEEE has developed guidelines on citing ChatGPT use in their style. They recommend using their "Software" category.

Template for Software citing:

Author firstname initial. Lastname. Title of Software. Date Repository or Archive. (version or year). Publisher Name. Accessed: Date (when applicable). [Type of Medium]. Global Persistent Identifier. Available: site/path/file

Example citation:

To include the subject of the interaction and the prompt used, follow this example:

Labelling Figures

Here is an example of a figure appearing in a paper published by IEEE on autonomous underwater vehicles. The spelling error is the fault of the authors and peer reviewers.

Figures can also be more complex. Here is a figure from a paper written by three EECS faculty members at the University of Michigan, on autonomous vehicle decision-making. It has multiple sections and an extensive caption.

Figure from the paper " Augmented vehicle tracking under occlusions for decision-making in autonomous driving " from IEEE Xplore.

Citing Figures

When citing figures you did not create yourself, cite the document they appear in. 

For example, if using this portion of a figure from the Augmented Vehicle Tracking paper above:

Fig. 3. Simulated intersection handling. Source: Adapted from [2]

Then in your list of References, the article is listed normally in IEEE style.

[2] E. Galceran, E. Olson, and R. M. Eustice, “Augmented vehicle tracking under occlusions for decision-making in autonomous driving,” in 2015  IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Hamburg, Germany, 2015, pp. 3559–3565.

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• IEEE Paper Format | Template & Guidelines

IEEE Paper Format | Template & Guidelines

Published on 28 August 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 6 April 2023.

IEEE provides guidelines for formatting your paper. These guidelines must be followed when you’re submitting a manuscript for publication in an IEEE journal. Some of the key guidelines are:

• Formatting the text as two columns, in Times New Roman, 10 pt
• Including a byline, an abstract , and a set of keywords at the start of the research paper
• Placing any figures, tables, and equations at the top or bottom of a column, not in the middle
• Following the appropriate heading styles for any headings you use
• Including a full list of IEEE references at the end
• Not including page numbers

To learn more about the specifics of IEEE paper format, check out the free template below. Note that you may not need to follow these rules if you’ve only been told to use IEEE citation format for a student paper. But you do need to follow them to submit to IEEE publications.

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Table of contents

Ieee format template, ieee heading styles, frequently asked questions about ieee paper format.

The template below can be used to make sure that your paper follows IEEE format. It’s set up with custom Word styles for all the different parts of the text, with the right fonts and formatting and with further explanation of key points.

Make sure to remove all the explanatory text in the template when you insert your own.

Download IEEE paper format template

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IEEE recommends specific heading styles to distinguish the title and different levels of heading in your paper from each other. Styles for each of these are built into the template.

The paper title is written in 24 pt Times New Roman, centred at the top of the first page. Other headings are all written in 10 pt Times New Roman:

• Level 1 text headings begin with a roman numeral followed by a full stop. They are written in small caps, in title case, and centred.
• Level 2 text headings begin with a capital letter followed by a full stop. They are italicised, left-aligned, and written in title case.
• Level 3 text headings begin with a number followed by a closing parenthesis . They are italicised, written in sentence case, and indented like a regular paragraph. The text of the section follows the heading immediately, after a colon .
• Level 4 text headings begin with a lowercase letter followed by a closing parenthesis. They are italicised, written in sentence case, and indented slightly further than a normal paragraph. The text of the section follows the heading immediately, after a colon.
• Component headings are used for the different components of your paper outside of the main text, such as the acknowledgments and references. They are written in small caps, in title case, centred, and without any numbering.

You should use 10 pt. Times New Roman font in your IEEE format paper .

For the paper title, 26 pt. Times New Roman is used. For some other paper elements like table footnotes, the font can be slightly smaller. All the correct stylings are available in our free IEEE format template .

No, page numbers are not included in an  IEEE format paper . If you’re submitting to an IEEE publication, page numbers will be added in the final publication but aren’t needed in the manuscript.

IEEE paper format requires you to include an abstract summarising the content of your paper. It appears at the start of the paper, right after you list your name and affiliation.

The abstract begins with the word ‘Abstract,’ italicised and followed by an em dash. The abstract itself follows immediately on the same line. The entire section is written in bold font. For example: ‘ Abstract —This paper discusses …’

You can find the correct format for your IEEE abstract and other parts of the paper in our free IEEE paper format template .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, April 06). IEEE Paper Format | Template & Guidelines. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/ieee-referencing/ieee-format-paper/

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IEEE Citation Guide

• Getting started with IEEE referencing
• Books & e-books
• Journal articles

Basic format to reference a print journal article

Basic format to reference an electronic journal article, referencing a journal article: examples, journal title abbreviations.

• Web-based document or source
• Handbooks and manuals
• Standards and patents
• Conference proceedings
• Technical/company reports
• Lecture notes
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[#]    Author(s) Initial(s). Surname(s), “ Title of the article,” Abbrev. Title of Journal , vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx –xxx , Abbrev. Month, Year.

Referencing elements to cite:

• [#] Reference number (matching the in-text citation number)
• Author’s first initial. Author’s second initial, if provided. Author’s last name
• Title of the article in double quotation marks, in lower case
• Title of the Journal, in italics. Important words of the title are capitalised, but not minor ones, such as ‘and’, ‘of’, ‘on’, etc. Refer to the Journal titles abbreviations section on this page for further information.
• Volume, issue and page number(s)
• Abbreviated month and year of publication. Refer to the  Abbreviated month  section for further information.

[1]     T. Kaczorek,   "Minimum energy control of fractional positive electrical circuits", Archives of Electrical Engineering , vol. 65, no. 2, pp.191 – 201, 2016.

[#]    Author(s) Initial(s). Surname(s), “ Title of the electronic article,” Abbrev . Title of Journal , vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx –xxx , Abbrev. Month. Year. Accessed on: Abbrev. Month. Day, Year.  [Online]. Available: site/path/file (doi:xxxxx, database or URL) 

• Title of the Journal, in italics. Important words of the title are capitalised, but not minor ones, such as ‘and’, ‘of’, ‘on’, etc. Refer to the Journal titles abbreviations  section on this page for further information.
• Abbreviated month and year of publication. Refer to the  Abbreviated month  section for further information.
• Accessed on: Month, Day, Year. Where there is a DOI available, do not include the Access Date
• It is preferable to provide a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) 
• If a DOI of the journal article is not available, provide the Victoria University database provider. Refer to  DOI in IEEE  section on this guide for further information.
• For electronic resources found on the Internet include the full URL

[2]     A. Vaskuri, H. Baumgartner, P. Kärhä, G. Andor, and E. Ikonen, "Modeling the spectral shape of InGaAlP-based red light-emitting diodes," Journal of Applied Physics , vol. 118, no. 20, pp. 203103-1 – 203103-7, Jul. 2015. Accessed on Feb. 9, 2017. [Online]. Available  doi: 10.1063/1.4936322

When referencing a journal article, please check a list of standard journal title abbreviations at either IEEE Abbreviations for Transactions, Journals, Letters, and Magazines or CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool .

For example, the official title abbreviation for the ‘Information Processing & Management’ journal, as cross-checked in CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool, is ‘Inf. Process. Manage.’. Other examples include:

• Information Processing & Management = Inf. Process. Manage.
• Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics = Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech.
• Journal of Documentation = J. Doc.

If the publication you are looking for is not included in these two databases, spell out the name of journal title in full.

If referencing articles found in IEEE Transactions Journals that were published prior to 1988, also provide the acronym of the Journal that features along with the volume number, e.g., vol. AC – 28. 

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IEEE Style Guide: How Do You Add References and Citations in Your Manuscript?

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ) is an organization whose mission is to advance technology to benefit humankind. IEEE is recognized for its continuing support of technical professionals and its contributions to increasing innovations in technical fields, such as electronics and computer science. From a researcher’s perspective, IEEE citations are important. IEEE has its own referencing and citation style that is used in various technical publications. Here, we provide information and examples for the most common types of published works.

In-Text Citations

IEEE uses numerals within brackets to denote each reference as it appears in the text. Each reference has only one number associated with it, and the numbers are ordered in sequence. For example,

Wolves have the innate ability to limit the size of their litters based on the availability of food[1].

Note the placement of the numeral. Each numeric citation is enclosed in brackets in line with the text . Space is inserted before the bracket and punctuation is placed after the bracket. When the same reference is used throughout the document and you want to call attention to a specific page or illustration, you can format the reference as follows:

Wolves have a system of hierarchy that allows only the alpha male and female in the pack to mate [2, Fig. 4].

Each in-text citation stands alone. For example, when several citations are necessary, they would appear as follows:

[1], [2], [5], [8] – [10]

Note that each is bracketed. Note also that the first three citations stand alone and are separated by a comma and space. The final citation denotes a range and en-dash (not a hyphen) is inserted between the brackets.

These are the preferred formats. Some publications will accept a somewhat altered format (e.g., [1, 3, 5]) but always check your author guidelines. When in doubt, use the preferred methods.

Citing Authors More Than Once

When making references to the same author(s), it is not necessary to type the author’s name each time. You can merely refer to the same bracketed numeral used in the first citation. For example:

First citation :

Smith and Jones found that a higher percentage of people contract viruses during winter[7].

Subsequent citation :

In [7], it was determined that using antibacterial soaps and wipes were not as effective in preventing illnesses as once suspected.

Note the format in the second example using only the citation numeral with “in” placed before it.

If your reference has three or more authors, you use “et al.” instead of listing all the names. For example, if the authors of the first citation were “Smith, Jones, and Jackson,” the citation would be as follows:

Smith et al. [7] found that a higher percentage of people contract viruses during winter [7].

Check author guidelines to determine whether et al. should be italicized.

References in General

The reference list corresponds to the numeric citations and is formatted sequentially, not alphabetically. There are three specific reference parts:

• Name of author(s): First initial or name followed by a comma and complete last name.
• Title of article/printed/electronic work : In quotation marks.
• Title of publication: In italics.

The following formatting rules apply:

• List references sequentially.
• Use citation numerals in brackets before each reference.
• Place numbered brackets flush left.
• Use single spaces within references and double spaces between them.
• Indent the reference text.

Some parts of references, such as punctuation and dates, might vary. Be sure to check guidelines for examples of several reference types not provided here.

Electronic Documents

Following are some examples of references for electronic documents.

[5]        B. Jacobs, R. Smith, and D. Jones, Software for Gaming , 2nd ed. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley, 2003. [E-book] Available: (name of source).

Journal Article Abstract

[17]      B. Smith and P. Miller, “Bitcoins,” Information and Software Technology , vol. 100, no. 860 p. 333, June 2010. [Abstract]. Available: (website name). [Accessed December 25, 2017].

Journal Article (open access)

[2]        B. Smith, “Hypertext hype,” Current Issues in Education , vol. 6, no. 12, July, 2005. [Online serial]. Available: (website URL). [Accessed date].

Note the spacing, punctuation, and fonts of each. For more complete examples, please refer to the link above.

Printed Documents

The following are some (fake) examples of references from books with one or more authors:

[1]        W. K. Smith, Making Sense of Networks . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Press, 2005. [2]        J. L. Smith and B. H. Jones, Eds., Sensory Signals . New York: Wiley-Liss, 2006.

Note in the second example, the names presented are denoted as the “editors” of the book.

When referencing a section from a book, the format would be as follows:

[3]        E. D. Smith and B. D. Jones, “Sensory Receptors,” in Sensory Signals , J. L. Smith and B. H. Jones, Eds. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2006, pp-1-64.

When there are three or more authors, the same rules apply. The authors are listed using the same format.

Books or manuals are referenced by the organization name but use the same formatting structure as follows:

[1]        Council of Biology Editors, Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers , 6th ed., Chicago: Cambridge University Press, 2006. [2]        IBM Corporation, New and Improved Software Systems , IBM Corporation, 2010.

Datasheets follow the same principles as those for electronic and printed matter but use the manufacturer’s name, name of the data sheet, and model or product identification code in the reference. For example,

[10]      Texas Instruments, “R&S ® RTO oscilloscopes,” 74HC4051 datasheet, Nov. 2016.

The same rules apply to references for government publications and conference proceedings.

General Rules

These are just a few of the many types of references that you might encounter in your technical writing. Most references will follow similar IEEE formats. In addition, reference programs such as EndNote encompass IEEE style and some of its variants . Always check with your department or journal on its preferred reference style to ensure accuracy.

What literature sources do you find it difficult or confusing to cite in IEEE referencing style? Let us know in the comments section below!

HOW TO PUT REFERENCE FROM A WEB PAGE?

Hi Sajitha,

Thank you for posting your query. Regarding your query of adding references from a webpage, it depends on the wrtiting style guide you are following while drafting your manuscript. For example, the format of adding references as per the APA style guide might be different from the IEEE style guide. However, the general style while adding references through EndNote is as follows: Author – If there are one or more author names associated with the specific page or article you are citing, all of them need to be mentioned. If there is no individual named, you can use the organization as the author, followed by a comma. Title – If the article has its own title, you can use that. If not, use the name of the overall webpage. If there is not an obvious name, you can check the URL for a clue. Year – If the article is dated, use that year. If it is not, look for a copyright year at the bottom of the Web page. If none is given, enter “n.d.” (for “no date”). Access Date – Month, day, and year you looked at the Web page. URL You can refer to the following link for more information on referencing as per the different style guides: http://libguides.dixie.edu/c.php?g=57887&p=371721

Please let us know in case of any other queries.

Is there a general standard for citing memorandums & the slides from presentations? Thank you in advance.

Thank you for sharing your query with us. If the presentation is a conference proceeding available online, you can cite in the following manner under the IEEE style guide: Name of the Author, “Title of paper,” in Abbreviated Name of Conf., (location of conference is optional), year, pp. xxxxxx. [Online]. Available: http://www.url.com

You can check through the following link for more information: https://ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/IEEE-Reference-Guide.pdf

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How to Cite a Conference Paper in IEEE Referencing

4-minute read

• 22nd January 2020

IEEE referencing – named for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – is a common citation system in many technical subject areas, from computing to engineering. And if you’re using this system in your work, you may need to know how to cite a conference paper.

But how does this work? And is there a difference between published and unpublished conference papers in IEEE referencing ? Let’s take a look.

To cite a conference paper in IEEE referencing, simply treat it like any other source. This means giving a number in square brackets, usually at the end of the relevant sentence or passage:

Traditional manufacturing techniques have largely been replaced [1].

This number points to an entry in a reference list. The [1] above, for instance, shows that we’re citing the first source in the reference list.

Beyond this, standard rules for citing sources in IEEE referencing include:

• Number sources sequentially (i.e., use [1] for the first source you cite, [2] for the second source, [3] for the third source, and so on).
• Use the same number each time you cite the same source (i.e., the number that matches the position of the source in the reference list).
• If you quote a source, include page numbers (e.g., [1, p. 146]).

You can see examples of repeat citations and quotations below:

Brown [2] says this is a matter of efficiency. With this shift, some argue that we have “lost valuable skills” [3, p. 40]. However, we can see examples of traditional skills being preserved where there is demand [2].

Here, for instance, the first and third citations are for the second source in the reference list. We can also see that the quote here comes from page 40 of the third source in the reference list via the other citation. For more information on citing sources in IEEE referencing, see this blog post .

IEEE Reference List: Published Conference Paper

The reference list is where you provide details of all sources cited in your work. However, in IEEE, the format to use here depends on whether you’re citing a published or unpublished paper. For a paper from published conference proceedings, the standard format is as follows:

[#] INITIAL(S) Surname, “Paper Title,” in Abbreviated Conference Name , location of conference (optional), date of conference (if available), year, page range.

So, a published conference paper would look something like this in practice:

[1] R. Johnson, “Traditional Manufacturing Techniques in Modern Industry,” in Proc. 3rd Annu. Traditional Skills Colloq. , Cambridge, UK, 19-21 Jul. 2019., pp. 182-194.

If the paper is also available online, include a DOI after the page numbers.

IEEE Reference List: Unpublished Conference Paper

Not every paper presented at a conference will be published in proceedings. But you can reference an unpublished paper as follows:

[#] INITIAL(S) Surname, “Paper Title,” presented at Abbreviated Conference Name , location of conference, date of conference.

For example, we could list an unpublished version of a paper as follows:

[1] R. Johnson, “Traditional Manufacturing Techniques in Modern Industry,” presented 3rd Annu. Traditional Skills Colloq., Cambridge, UK, 19-21 Jul. 2019.

If the unpublished paper is also available online, though, you should include the format and URL in place of the location and date. For example:

[1] R. Johnson. “Traditional Manufacturing Techniques in Modern Industry,” presented 3rd Annu. Traditional Skills Colloq. [Online]. Available: http://www.imaginaryuniversity.ac.uk/profiles/rian-johnson/papers/traditional-manufacturing-techniques-paper-revised-01082019.pdf

This makes it easier for readers to check the paper you’ve cited.

Abbreviating Conference Names in IEEE Referencing

You will have noticed above that the reference list entries include an abbreviated conference name. These are based on the official abbreviations used for conference names in IEEE referencing:

  You should also leave out articles (e.g., a , an , the ) and prepositions (e.g., of , on , in ). However, all other words should be written out in full. For example:

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Full Name: Proceedings of the Third Annual Traditional Skills Colloquium

Abbreviated Name: Proc. 3rd Annu. Traditional Skills Colloq.

We hope this has fully explained how to cite a conference paper in IEEE referencing! If you have any questions, just leave a comment below.

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Guide on How to Write a Paper in IEEE Format: Citation and Referencing

Every student who studies Computer Science should know how to write a paper in the IEEE format to set themselves up for success. Whether you major in Programming, Information Technologies, or Web Communication, the IEEE paper format is widely used for styling academic papers written in these subjects, which is why it is vital to master it.

This article will be your guide to the format. While reading it, you will learn how to cite in IEEE. Additionally, our term paper writing service will tell you what the IEEE style is, share the basic requirements given in this manual of style, provide some overall writing recommendations, and share handy IEEE citation examples.

What Is IEEE?

The IEEE reference format is a commonly accepted style for writing, formatting, and citing research papers. The format was created based on the Chicago Manual of Style and is widely used by students and researchers in Computer Science and relevant technical fields. This comprehensive guide will come in handy for every student or young professional involved in this field. Thus, if that’s your major, we recommend reading this article instead of studying the entire edition of the latest IEEE manual of style, to save lots of time and to grasp the idea of how to create an IEEE paper with ease.

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What does IEEE stand for, you may wonder? The letters IEEE stand for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is a professional association of electric engineering and associated disciplines. It was formed in 1963 on the basis of two American establishments – the Institute of Radio Engineers and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Being the largest association of technical professionals in the world, the IEEE sets the bar for aspiring technical specialists and researchers. To outline the standards for writing and organizing academic works in relevant fields, the IEEE has established its own writing style manual.

The IEEE style consists of 2 critical elements:

• In-text citations (direct & indirect)
• References (Works Cited in MLA format)

In-text citations are short quotations taken from primary or secondary sources. In IEEE in text citation, they are numbered in square brackets. Every number next to their corresponding citation identifies the complete citation listed in the References section in numerical order (commonly referred to as the Works Cited list or bibliography page in other formats). In APA citation format they call it References.

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Why Citing is Important for Your Academic Performance?

Collecting sources for an academic paper and then citing them can be rather time-consuming and tedious. Many students find the citation process too complicated and often overlook its importance.

So, why is citing sources vital for your academic performance? First of all, citing external sources helps students show their professors that they have invested time and effort into researching the given topic. Also, this process has a few other purposes:

1. Providing Credibility The main reasons for using information from external sources are either to compliment the contents of your work with relevant data, or to provide a different look/opinion on the issue stated. In both cases, it means adding credibility to your own paper, making it look more trustworthy and complete, and establishing yourself as an authoritative author.

2. Ensuring Academic Integrity and Uniqueness By not giving credit to other people’s works when relevant, you lose academic integrity and misrepresent your own academic achievements. At the same time, you risk the uniqueness of your paper; as simply using external resources without citing them is most often considered plagiarism. Both issues can lead to a low grade, failure of the task, or even expulsion.

Besides, IEEE has a special definition of plagiarism. The organization believes it is the usage of another’s ideas, opinions, research findings, or words, without acknowledging the original writer and source. Plagiarism is a severe breach of professional conduct. It involves serious ethical & legal outcomes in most situations. Imagine someone would use your words one day once you’ve become a famous writer or scientist. How would you feel?

3. Acknowledging the Works of Other Specialists The main purpose of citing sources is to give credit to the works of other people, wherever it is pertinent. When creating each citation, you acknowledge the hard work, time, and effort another person has put into his or her research.

4. Contributing to Further Research Finally, the last reason that proves the importance of citations is the fact that by giving accurate credit to others’ works, you are contributing to your own further research and also helping other researchers locate the relevant sources you’ve cited with ease.

All in all, it is worth noting that formatting weighs around 10-15% of the final grade you get for a paper. Given this and other reasons, it is fair to say that students can’t count on the highest grade without having their sources properly cited.

Basic Page Format

The standard IEEE template contains the following sections in the same order:

• Title Page (including the article’s title, byline, membership, and first footnote)
• Abstract – should be one paragraph long (preferably between 150 to 250 words)
• Index Terms
• Nomenclature (optional)
• Introduction
• Body of Article
• Appendix(es)
• Acknowledgment(s)
• Photos and Biographies

To write an IEEE style paper, students should follow these basic rules:

• Paper title – placed on the first page, centered at the top, and 24pt font size.
• Byline – placed below the paper title after a line break, centered, 10pt font size. The byline has to include the following information (every point needs to be on a separate line):
• ~ Author’s name(s)
• ~ Author’s affiliation(s)
• ~ City & country location(s)
• ~ E-mail address(es).
• Main body – all written in 10pt font size, the text should appear in two columns on the page. Columns on the last page have to be of the same length, which means the author may need to add a column break.
• The paper should start with the abstract and index terms.
• Depending on the subject and context, papers may include additional sections like:
• ~ Acknowledgments
• ~ Appendices
• ~ Note to Practitioners
• ~ Nomenclature
• The main body of the paper can be divided into relevant sections and subsections. Each section and subsection should have a heading formatted according to the rules specified later in this guide.
• All tables, equations, and figures have to be numbered in consecutive order and centered in the column.
• IEEE papers should start with a drop cap two lines deep, followed by the next 8-12 characters or 1-2 words (depending on which is more appropriate) in all caps.

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Parts of a Paper

• Headings The IEEE format suggests authors of papers use four levels of hierarchy for the text’s section headings:

Enumeration of section headings is preferable, but not mandatory – the author can use his or her preference. However, the chosen format should be consistently followed throughout the entire paper.

Apart from section headings, there are also Appendix, Reference, and Acknowledgement headings, which are formatted differently:

Appendix headings — the primary heading(s) in the paper’s Appendix or Appendixes should be formatted according to the standard style. The authors are allowed to use either letters or Roman numerals to enumerate Appendix headings (e.g. Appendix A or Appendix I)—but note that it should not be preceded by a Roman numeral. In case you only have one Appendix in the paper, its heading remains unnamed and unnumbered.

Reference and Acknowledgement headings — should be formatted like primary headings. However, these should never be labeled or enumerated.

• First Footnote The first footnote in the article is not numbered (though all following footnotes should be numbered consecutively) and should consist of three paragraphs:
• The first part should specify the received and revised (optional) dates of the paper. When there is more than one revised date, list all of them.
• The next paragraph consists of the authors’ affiliations. In case there are two or more authors with varying affiliations, use separate sentences and paragraphs for each author, specifying all initials with the last name. The authors with the same affiliation should be grouped; you should list the affiliations according to the order of the authors in the byline.
• The last paragraph of the first footnote should specify the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, assigned by the IEEE.

Example: Manuscript received April 27, 2018; revised September 18, 2018; accepted July 25, 2018. Date of publication August 15, 2013; date of current version September 9, 2018. This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS UEFISCDI, under Project PN-II-ID-BXE-4016-3-0566. (Corresponding author: John Smith.) The authors are with the National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion Laboratory, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania (e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]). Color versions of one or more of the figures are available online at http:// ieeexplore.ieee.org. (NOTE: Only Used with Printed Publications). Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/JDT.2013.2278036

If you need to specify any financial support for the work, it should be listed in the first paragraph instead of the Acknowledgement section.

Example: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant 90210 and Grant ECS-12345.

Body of the Paper

• Abstract The IEEE format requires authors to include an Abstract in every paper. An abstract should follow the Title Page of the document and appear in the text in boldface type. It has to be concise and should not include any numbered references or mathematical equations.
• Index Terms Authors should also provide Index Terms in their IEEE papers. Index Terms should also appear in boldface type, in alphabetic order, and located within the Abstract as its final paragraphs. You should only define acronyms in this section if they have already been defined in the paper itself. The authors can request a list of keywords by sending a blank email to keywords[at]ieee.org.
• Text Equations When placing equations within the main body of the paper, one should number them in inconsequential order from the beginning of the work to its end. In some transactions, it is permitted to use the author’s own numbering system, for example, numbering by section, e.g., (1.1), (1.2.1), (A1).
• Acknowledgment The Acknowledgement section should always follow the final part of the text, after any Appendix(es) and preceding the References section. It should be written in the third person.

If you need to cite names in the Acknowledgement section, do not use full names and honorables like Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Ms. Instead, only list first initials followed by a family name. You can still use titles like Prof. and Dr., but only in the singular form, placing it separately next to each name.

Do NOT include information about any financial support in the Acknowledgement section, place it in the first paragraph of the first footnote instead.

• References In IEEE papers, all references should be numbered and there should be a separate entry for each number. It is not allowed to use the same reference number of a group of IEEE citations.
• Text Citation of Figures and Tables IEEE citation format for figures and tables requires following numerical order. Citations of figures located within the paper should always be labeled by the abbreviation “Fig.” followed by the relevant figure number. Authors of papers should use this abbreviation even if it has to be put at the beginning of a sentence.
• Biographies IEEE Transactions require including author biographies. As a rule, biographies have to be divided into three paragraphs:
• First paragraph — should start with the full name of the author and the history of his or her IEEE membership. It may also contain a date and/or place of birth (if the author provides it). After this, it is vital to specify the author’s educational background. Indicate the major area of study in lowercase letters, always put the word “degree” after a specific degree title, and specify the years when the degrees were obtained. For specifying degrees, you may use the following abbreviations: Dipl.Ing., Diplom-Physiker, Dr. ing., dr. Phil., Dr. Eng., B.S., S.B., B.A., A.B., B.Sc. (Hons.), B.S.E., B.E.E., M.Eng., M.S.(tech.), M.S.E.E., M.S.E., Civilingenir, Lic.es Sci., Lic.es Lett.
• Second paragraph -— it should contain information about the author’s work and military experience (if any); all job titles should be capitalized. When mentioning their current job, one must specify its location, but this is not mandatory for past experiences. Follow the list of experience by the author’s affiliations with non-IEEE journals, and current and previous fields of interest.

Note: you should not repeat the name of the author in this paragraph; use “he” or “she” instead.

• Third paragraph — should start with the title and surname of the author (e.g., Dr. Mitchell, Mr. Black, Prof. Smith, etc.). Then it should list information about the author’s memberships in professional societies (except IEEE), as well as their status as a Professional Engineer (if so). The paragraph should end with a list of the author’s awards, publications, and work for IEEE committees. If the author’s biography is unavailable, you need to use a squib for it.

Example: Frank J. Author (S’xx—M’xx), photograph and biography not available at the time of publication.

• Footnotes A footnote is any additional information, explanation, or comment related to the main text that is located at the bottom of the page. All footnotes within the IEEE format paper should be numbered and followed in consecutive order within the body of the paper. The numbers, both within the text and in the actual footnotes, should be marked with superscripts. Within the body of the paper, the superscript footnote numbers should always be placed after the punctuation marks, such as parentheses, commas, and periods. However, if the sentence is a compound one, the numbers should be placed before the punctuation marks, such as semicolons, dashes, colons, and quotation marks. The actual footnotes should be placed at the bottom of the page where the cited information is located.
• List in Text All lists within the IEEE style papers should be formatted according to the following order of labeling: 1), 2), 3) followed by a), b), c), and then i), ii), iii).

Example: According to the IEEE Computer Society, the most crucial areas of computer science are: 1) algorithms and data structures; 2) theory of computation; 3) computer elements and architecture; and 4) programming methodology and languages.

How to Cite References

As was already mentioned, every reference has a corresponding IEEE citation within the main body of the essay or research paper. Each time a writer adds a citation, they should insert a number within square brackets. Later, each citation should be assigned a complete reference on the References page. Relevant citations within the text and on the references page should correspond to each other by numbers to make it possible to find the complete reference. The references page should be on its own separate page of the paper.

Each full IEEE reference must include all of the necessary bibliographic information to help the reader find more details about its topic. The elements of an IEEE format reference are:

• A corresponding number to the in-text citation
• Author’s surname and initials
• The full title of the work
• Place of publication
• Date of publication
• Some smaller details like page number, issue, or volume (if available)

Now, as you know the basic rules of citations, let's look at some IEEE format citation examples from our political science essay service to help you understand how to make a reference page:

Digital Documents

E-book [corresponding number] Author. (year, month and day of publication). Book title. (edition). [Type of medium]. Vol. (issue). Available: http:// website URL [date accessed].

Example: [6] S. Calmer. (1999, June 1). Engineering and Art. (2nd edition). [On-line]. 27(3). Available: http:// website URL [May 21, 2003].

IEEE Website Citation [corresponding number] Website. “Title.” Available: complete URL, date updated, [Accessed: date].

Example: [7] Emarketer.com. "Social Networking Reaches Nearly One in Four Around the World." Available: http:// website URL, Jan. 25, 2014. [Accessed: June.23, 2014].

Podcast [corresponding number] Author’s Initial. Author’s Surname, "Title", Publication Title, Year Published. [Online]. Available: http:// website URL. [Accessed: date].

Example: [8] R. Robertson. "Leadership at the Bottom of the Earth… Where No One Hears You Scream", Sir Walter Murdoch Lecture, 2010. [Podcast]. Available: http:// website URL. [Accessed: Aug. 5, 2010].

Print References

Book: Single Author [corresponding number] Author. Book title. Location: Publishing company, year, pp.

Example: [1] W.-K. Chen. Linear Networks and Systems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1993, pp. 123-135.

Book: Two or More Authors [corresponding number] Author, Author, and Author. Book title. Location: Publishing company, year, pp.

Example: [2] U. J. Gelinas, Jr., S. G. Sutton, and J. Fedorowicz. Business Processes and Information Technology. Cincinnati: South-Western/Thomson Learning, 2004, pp. 98-100.

Book: No Author [corresponding number] Book title. Location: Publishing company, year, pp.

Example: [3] The Oxford Dictionary of Computing, 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, pp.13-23.

Article in a Journal [corresponding number] Author. “Article title”. Journal title, vol., pp, date.

Example: [4] G. Pevere. “Infrared Nation.” The International Journal of Infrared Design, vol. 33, pp. 56-99, Jan. 1979.

Newspaper Article [corresponding number] Author. “Article title”. Newspaper title, pp, date.

Example: [5] N. Perpitch, "Green groups battle to overturn gas plan," The Australian, p. 2, Sept. 7, 2010.

Note: If you can’t find certain information about the source, exclude it.

We also recommend that you read how to write a reflective essay .

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Citations of figures / images in the paper must be in numerical order. Place it below the figure / image.

Citations to figures in text always carry the abbreviation “Fig.” followed by the figure number.  The figure number must have a period after it. Then comes the caption followed by Adapted from [the number in the reference list in which you provide the details of the source]. The first word of the caption should be capitalized. Do not use A, An, or The at the beginning of a figure or table caption. 

Fig. 1.  Footwear collected from the shorelines of Midway Atoll. Adapted from [2]

a) In the reference list give the details of the source, the webpage from which the image is taken in IEEE citation style (IEEE Reference Guide 2018). 

[2]  NOAA Photo Library. “fis01484." Flickr.com. https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib/27889266330/in/album-72157670783471385/ (accessed Oct. 3, 2021).

or b) Cite the image as Artwork in IEEE citation style.

[2] NOAA Photo Library, fis01484.  2013. Accessed: Aug. 22, 2023. [Photo].  Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib/27889266330/

Acknowledgement for the use of the photograph used in the example:

We acknowledge the use of the photograph fis01484 by Kristen Kelly, taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib/27889266330/in/album-72157670783471385/ under CC BY 2.0

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